(n.) A body of troops in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.
(n.) A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose; as, the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio, originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut; the Clergy Reserves in Canada, for the support of the clergy.
(n.) Funds kept on hand to meet liabilities.
(n.) Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.
(n.) That which is excepted; exception.
(n.) That which is reserved, or kept back, as for future use.
(n.) The act of reserving, or keeping back; reservation.
(v. t.) Hence, to keep in store for future or special use; to withhold from present use for another purpose or time; to keep; to retain.
(v. t.) To keep back; to retain; not to deliver, make over, or disclose.
(v. t.) To make an exception of; to except.